title: Improvement of arterial wall characteristics by the low-dose fluvastatin and valsartan combination in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients.
abstract: We tested whether short-term, low-dose treatment with the fluvastatin and valsartan combination could improve impaired arterial wall characteristics in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. A total of 44 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients were randomised into the treatment group [n = 22; received a low-dose combination of fluvastatin (10 mg daily) and valsartan (20 mg daily)] and the control group (n = 22; received placebo), both for 30 days. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid artery β-stiffness were measured. Significant improvements in FMD (+73.2%), PWV (-7.5%) and β-stiffness (-10.0%) were achieved after 1-month treatment compared to the control group (all p values < 0.001). Three months after therapy discontinuation, important residual improvement in measured parameters was still present. No changes in lipids and blood pressure accompanied the beneficial improvements. We conclude that relatively simple intervention (low-dose, short-term fluvastatin/valsartan combination) produces substantial, long-term improvement of arterial wall characteristics in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Diseases, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia. s_vedran@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Savić
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eržen
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janić
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lunder
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boncelj
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanc
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janež
authors.forename: Mišo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šabović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007211:Indoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine
keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; cardiovascular prevention; fluvastatin and valsartan combination; low dose